Hybrid dental device

ABSTRACT

A hybrid dental tool is disclosed herein. The hybrid dental tool includes a flossing head and a handle portion. The flossing head can include a filament stretching between the leading arm and a trailing arm. The flossing head can be connected to the handle portion. The handle portion can include features that can receive and retain a pick. The pick can be a soft pick or a hard pick. The handle portion can further include an integrated pick that can be located at a free end of the handle portion.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No.14/546,961 entitled “HYBRID DENTAL DEVICE,” and filed Nov. 18, 2014,which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/985,989entitled “HYBRID DENTAL DEVICE,” and filed on Apr. 29, 2014, theentirety of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates, generally, to dental devices, and moreparticularly to dental hygiene devices.

While dental hygiene has long been important in American and othercultures for maintaining a desirable physical appearance, recentdiscoveries have increased the urgency with which dental hygiene ismaintained. These recent discoveries have linked oral bacteria to other,more serious diseases such as, for example, heart disease. In light ofthe increased importance of dental hygiene, new devices are desired toimprove dental hygiene.

BRIEF SUMMARY

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a hybrid dental device.The hybrid dental device includes a pick including a shaft and acleaner, and a flosser. In some embodiments, the flosser includes aflossing portion and a handle, which handle can include a pickdepression. In some embodiments, the pick depression can receive theshaft and the cleaner of the pick. The handle can include a pickretainer. In some embodiments, the pick retainer can retain the pickwithin the pick depression.

In some embodiments, the flossing portion includes a leading arm and atrailing arm that can be, for example, connected by a link arm. In someembodiments, a filament extends from the leading arm to the trailingarm, which filament can be, for example, dental floss. In someembodiments, the link arm can include a bite plate that can extendparallel to the filament. In some embodiments, the pick retainer caninclude a channel that can receive a portion of the pick.

In some embodiments of the hybrid dental device, the channel can includea first dimension. In some embodiments, the first dimension can besmaller than a width of the cleaner. In some embodiments, the width ofthe cleaner can be measured perpendicular to the shaft of the pickand/or can be measured at the widest portion of the pick. In someembodiments, the cleaner of the pick can be deformable to allow movementof the cleaner through the channel.

In some embodiments, the pick retainer can include at least one featurethat can deformably engage with the pick. In some embodiments, thehandle can include a connecting end and a free end. In some embodiments,the connecting end of the handle connects the handle to the flosser. Insome embodiments, the hybrid dental device further includes a secondpick located at the free end of the handle. In some embodiments, thesecond pick can be a soft pick or a hard pick.

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a hybrid dental device.The hybrid dental device includes a pick having a shaft and a cleanerand a flosser. In some embodiments, the flosser includes a flossingportion, and a handle having a pick retainer that can detachably connectthe pick to the handle.

In some embodiments of the hybrid dental device, the flossing portioncan have a leading arm and a trailing arm connected by a link arm. Insome embodiments, the link arm can have a bite plate extending parallelto the filament. In some embodiments, the pick can be a soft pick. Insome embodiments, the handle can have a connecting end and a free end,which connecting end of the handle connects the handle to the flosser,and which the free end is distal from the connection of the connectingend and the flosser. In some embodiments, the hybrid dental device caninclude a second pick located at the free end of the handle, whichsecond pick is protected by the pick when the pick is detachablyconnected to the handle.

Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will becomeapparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It shouldbe understood that the detailed description and specific examples, whileindicating various embodiments, are intended for purposes ofillustration only and are not intended to necessarily limit the scope ofthe disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of one embodiment of hybrid dental tool.

FIG. 2 is a front view of another embodiment of the hybrid dental tool.

FIG. 3 is a front view of one embodiment of the flosser of the hybriddental tool.

FIG. 4 is a back view of one embodiment of the flosser of the hybriddental tool.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the flosser of thehybrid dental tool.

FIG. 6 is a top view of one embodiment of the flosser of the hybriddental tool.

In the appended figures, similar components and/or features may have thesame reference label. Where the reference label is used in thespecification, the description is applicable to any one of the similarcomponents having the same reference label.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a hybrid dentaldevice and/or hybrid dental tool. In some embodiments, the hybrid dentaltool can integrate multiple care devices into a single device. In someembodiments, the hybrid dental tool can include a flosser and one orseveral picks. In some embodiments, the one or several picks can beintegrated into the flosser, and/or retained by the flosser. In oneembodiment, a first pick, which can be, for example, a soft pick, can beretained in a handle portion of the flosser. In some embodiments, asecond pick which can be, for example, a hard pick, can be formed into aportion of the handle of the flosser.

For the purposes of explanation, the ensuing details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments. Itwill be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that variousembodiments may be practiced without some of these specific details. Forexample, various features may be shown as components of some specificembodiments. In other instances, previously known features may be shownwithout unnecessary detail in order to avoid obscuring the inventivefeatures of the described embodiments.

Embodiments provided herein are examples only, and are not intended tolimit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the disclosure.Rather, the ensuing description of the embodiments will provide thoseskilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing one ormore embodiments. It should be understood that various changes may bemade in the function and arrangement of elements without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the disclosed embodiments.

With reference now to FIG. 1, a front view of one embodiment of a hybriddental tool 100 is shown. The hybrid dental tool 100 can comprise avariety of shapes and sizes. In some embodiments, the hybrid dental toolcan be sized so as to be easily held in a hand and to be used within amouth. The hybrid dental tool 100 can be made from a variety materials.In some embodiments, the hybrid dental tool 100 can be made from one orseveral plastics, metals, composites, polymers, or the like. In someembodiments, the materials for the hybrid dental tool 100 are selectedbased on desired properties of a hybrid dental tool and/or of thespecific portion of the hybrid dental tool.

The hybrid dental tool 100 can include a flosser 101. The flosser 101includes a flossing head 102, also referred to herein as a flossingportion or a flosser. The flossing head 102 can include featuresconfigured to allow use of the hybrid dental tool 100 and flossingteeth. The flossing head 102 can comprise a variety of shapes and sizes,but should be a size and shape so as to allow a user to access all ofthe teeth in the user's mouth, and particularly the teeth located in therear of the mouth.

The flossing head 102 can include a leading arm 104 and a trailing arm106. In some embodiments, the leading arm 104 can be located at thefront of the flossing head 102 and/or of the flosser 101 and thetrailing arm 106 can be relatively more centrally located in the flosser101. In some embodiments, the leading arm 104 and the trailing arm 106are parallel, and in some embodiments, the leading arm 104 and thetrailing arm 106 are nonparallel. In some embodiments, the leading arm104 and the trailing arm both extend from a link arm 110 and areconnected by a filament 108. This connection of the leading arm 104, thetrailing arm 106, and the link arm 110 can create a U-shaped flossinghead 102. In some embodiments, the connection of the leading arm 104,the trailing arm 106, and link arm 110 can give other shapes to theflossing head 102 such as, for example, a C-shape, a trapezoidal shape,or the like. In some embodiments, the filament 108 can be a thin singlefiber and/or group of fibers that is sized, shaped, and configured forinsertion between the patient's teeth. In some embodiments, the filament108 can comprise dental floss.

As seen in FIG. 1, some or all of the leading arm 104, the trailing arm106 and the link arm 110 can include one or several tiers 112. In someembodiments, the one or several tiers 112 can improve the appearance ofthe flossing head 102 and increase the rigidity of the flossing head102. In some embodiments, the increased rigidity of the flossing head102 can decrease the likelihood of bending and/or deformation of one ofthe leading arm 104, the trailing arm 106, and the link arm 110 duringflossing.

As further seen in FIG. 1, in some embodiments, the link arm 110 caninclude a bite plate 114. In some embodiments, the bite plate 114 can besized, shaped, and positioned so as to allow a user to bite on the biteplate 114 to increase the force with which the filament 108 is pushedbetween teeth during flossing. In some embodiments, the bite plate 114can comprise a thickness and/or width that is greater than the thicknessand/or width of the link arm 110. In some embodiments, this increasedthickness and/or width of the bite plate 114 can increase stability ofthe hybrid dental tool 100 when a user is biting on the bite plate 114.In some embodiments, the bite plate 114 can extend parallel to thefilament 108.

The flosser 101 can include a handle portion 116. In some embodiments,the handle portion 116 can be sized and shaped so as to allow a user tohold the handle portion 116 to control operation of the hybrid dentaldevice 100. The handle portion 116 can include a connecting end 118 thatconnects to the flossing head 102, and specifically can connect to oneor more of the link arm 110 and the trailing arm 106. The handle portion116 can further include a free end 120. In some embodiments, the freeend 120 is located opposite the connecting end 118, and does notdirectly connect to the flossing head 102, but rather connects to theflossing head 102 via the connecting end 118. In other words, the freeend 120 is located distally from the connection of the connecting end118 of the handle portion 116 to the flossing head 102.

In some embodiments, a pick can be removably attached to the handleportion 116. In some embodiments, the pick can be integral to, butseparable from the handle portion 116. In one embodiment, for example,the pick can be connected to the handle portion 116 via one or severalbreakable connections, which connections can be broken to separate thepick from the handle portion 116. In some embodiments, the pick can be aseparate component from the handle portion 116 and can be connected tothe handle portion 116 via one or several features of the handle portion116 and/or the pick. Such an embodiment is depicted in FIG. 1, whereinthe handle portion 116 includes a pick receptacle 122 extending from thefree end 120 towards the connecting end 118. The pick receptacle 122 canbe configured to receive and/or retain a pick. In some embodiments, thepick receptacle 122 can be sized so as to receive the pick, andspecifically can have one or several dimensions larger than one orseveral corresponding dimensions of the pick so as to thereby allowportions of the pick to be received within the pick receptacle 122. Insome embodiments, the pick receptacle 122 can be a depression in thehandle portion 116 of the hybrid dental device 100.

In line with the purpose of receiving some or all of the pick, the pickreceptacle 122 can comprise a variety of shapes and sizes and can belocated on a variety of portions of the handle portion 116. In someembodiments, the pick receptacle 122 includes a tip receptacle 124 sizedand shaped to receive the tip of the pick, a shaft receptacle 126 sizedand shaped to receive a shaft of the pick, and a grip receptacle 128sized and shaped to receive some or all of the grip of the pick. In someembodiments, the tip receptacle 124, the shaft receptacle 126, and thegrip receptacle 128 can receive the some or all of the pick. Thus, insome embodiments, the pick can be completely received within the volumedefined by the pick receptacle 122, and in some embodiments, the pickcan be partially received within the volume defined by the pickreceptacle 122 and can, therefore, partially extend from the volumedefined by the pick receptacle 122.

As further seen in FIG. 1, the handle portion 116 can include anextending arm 130. In some embodiments, the extending arm 130 can extendaround portions of the pick receptacle 122 such as, for example, aroundportions of the grip receptacle 128. In some embodiments, the extendingarm 130 can be configured to protect the pick from being snagged and/orto increase the ergonomics of the handle portion 116. In someembodiments, which will be discussed at greater length below, theextending arm 130 can be configured for other dental use.

The hybrid dental tool 100 can include a pick. In some embodiments, thepick can be configured for insertion between teeth to clean between theteeth. In some embodiments, the pick 132 can comprise a hard pick madeof a hard material, and in some embodiments, the pick 132 can comprise asoft pick. In some embodiments, a soft pick can include a hard componentwhich can be partially or completely covered with a soft outer layer.

The pick 132 can include a grip 134 that can be sized and shaped formanipulation by user, a shaft 136, and a tip 138 connected to the gripby the shaft 136. In some embodiments, the tip 138 can be sized andshaped to facilitate cleaning between teeth and/or to facilitateinsertion between teeth. In some embodiments, for example, the tip 138can taper to a point and can, for example, be cone shaped. In someembodiments, the tip 138 can extend to a point which can be, forexample, a rounded point, and/or a sharpened point.

In some embodiments, the tip 138 can be defined by one or several of alength, a width, and a diameter. Similarly, in some embodiments, theshaft 136 can be defined by one or several of a length, a width, and adiameter. In some embodiments, the length of both the tip 138 and theshaft 136 can be measured in the direction of the extension of the shaft136 and the tip 138 from the grip 134. In some embodiments, the widthand/or diameter of the widest portion of the tip 138 can be larger thanthe width and/or diameter of the widest portion of the shaft 136.

The tip 138 of the pick 132 can include one or several cleaningprotrusions 140. In some embodiments, the one or several cleaningprotrusions 140 can be configured to massage the gums of the user and/orto improve cleaning of the area between the teeth. The cleaningprotrusions 140 can comprise a variety of shapes and sizes. In someembodiments, the shapes and sizes of the cleaning protrusions 140 can beinfluenced by whether the pick 132 is a soft pick or a hard pick. In oneembodiment, for example, the cleaning protrusions 140 can be larger whenthe pick 132 is a soft pick than when the pick 132 is a hard pick. Insome embodiments, the one or several cleaning protrusions 140 caninclude a plurality of knobs regularly spaced along and around the tip138 of the pick 132.

With reference now to FIG. 2, a front view of another embodiment of thehybrid dental tool 100 is shown. As seen in FIG. 2, the hybrid dentaltool 100 includes the flosser 101 having the flossing head 102 and thehandle portion 116. The handle portion 116 is connected to the flossinghead 102 via the connecting end 118. Opposite the connecting end 118 isthe free end 120. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, the pickreceptacle 122 extends from the free end 120 towards the connecting end118 of the handle portion 116. As further seen in FIG. 2, the pick 132is retained within the pick receptacle 122, and specifically, the tip138 of the pick 132 is located within the tip receptacle 124, the shaft136 of the pick 132 is located within the shaft receptacle 126, and thegrip 134 of the pick 132 is located, at least in part, in the gripreceptacle 128. In the embodiment of the pick 132 depicted in FIG. 2,the width and/or diameter of the largest portion of the tip 138 of thepick 132 is larger than the width and/or diameter of the shaft 136 ofthe pick 132.

As seen in FIG. 2, the handle portion 116 includes a retention feature206. The retention feature 206 can comprise any feature configured toretain the connection between the pick 132 and the handle portion 116.In some embodiments, the retention feature 206 can be one or severalfeatures that deformably interact with the pick 132 to retain the pickwithin the pick receptacle 122. In some embodiments, these features canthemselves deform, can deform the pick 132, or can both deformthemselves and the pick 132 to allow the retention of the pick 132 andthe separation of the pick 132 from the handle portion 116. In someembodiments, these features can create a force fit and/or friction fitbetween the pick 132 and the pick receptacle 122. In the embodimentdepicted in FIG. 2, the retention feature 206 is a covering extendingover a portion of the pick receptacle 122. As seen, the covering overthe portion of the pick receptacle 122 is sized to allow insertion ofthe tip 138 of the pick 132 into and through the volume defined by thecovering and the pick receptacle 122, and to receive the shaft 136within this volume.

The hybrid dental tool 100, and specifically the handle portion 116 ofthe hybrid dental tool 100 includes a handle top 200 and an opposinghandle bottom 202. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, the pickreceptacle 122 is located relatively more proximate to the handle bottom202 than the handle top 200. Due to this positioning of the pickreceptacle 122, the extending arm 130 extends along the handle top 200of the handle portion 116. Specifically in the embodiment depicted inFIG. 2, the extending arm 130 of the handle portion 116 is formed intoan integrated pick 208. In some embodiments, the integrated pick 208 canbe used for performing dental hygiene separate from the flossing head102 and the pick 132. In some embodiments, the integrated pick 208, alsoreferred to herein as the second pick, can be a hard pick, and in someembodiments, the integrated pick 208 can be a soft pick that can beformed by, for example, double injection molding. In such an embodiment,the hybrid dental tool 100 depicted in FIG. 2 is formed during a firststep in the double injection molding process, wherein a hard plastic isinjection molded to form the hybrid dental tool 100, and a second,pliable layer is applied to the integrated pick 208 during a second stepof the injection molding process. Like pick 132, the integrated pick 208can comprise a variety of shapes and sizes. In some embodiments, theintegrated pick 208 can extend to a point, which point can be roundedand/or sharpened.

In some embodiments, the integrated pick 208 can be positioned such thatwhen the pick 132 is connected to the handle portion 116 of the flosser101, portions of the integrated pick 208, and particularly the point ofthe integrated pick 208, are protected by portions of the pick 132.Specifically, and as seen in FIG. 2, the grip 134 of the pick 132 ispositioned adjacent to the integrated pick 208 when the pick 132 isconnected to and/or retained by the handle portion 116. In such aposition, the integrated pick 208 is protected by the grip 134 in thatthe tip of the integrated pick 208 does not extend beyond the grip 134,and thus is not easily snagged.

With reference now to FIG. 3, an embodiment of the flosser 101 is shown.As seen in FIG. 3, the flosser 101 includes a handle portion 116 havinga handle top 200 and handle bottom 202. The handle portion 116 furtherincludes a pick receptacle 122 that includes a retention feature 206 anda back plate 300. In some embodiments, the retention feature 206 definesone outer limit of the pick receptacle 122 and the back plate 300defines an opposing outer limit of the pick receptacle 122. In theembodiment depicted in FIG. 3, the back plate 300 does not extend to thetermination point of the integrated pick 208. Advantageously, this earlytermination of the back plate 300 allows the user to grip both sides ofthe grip 134 of the pick 132.

With reference now to FIG. 4, a back view of one embodiment of theflosser 101 is shown. As seen in FIG. 4, some embodiments of the flosser101 can include a retention opening 402. In some embodiments, theretention opening 402 can be an opening extending up into the interiorof, for example, the retention feature 206. In some embodiments, theretention opening 402 can receive a feature that can be configured tosecure the pick 132 within the pick receptacle 122. In otherembodiments, the retention opening 402 can merely be an artifact of anadvantageous molding process.

With reference now to FIG. 5, a perspective view of one embodiment ofthe flosser 101 is shown. As seen in FIG. 5, the retention feature 206can comprise a channel 502, which can be, as shown in FIG. 5, forexample, an enclosed channel and/or a covered channel, that can be sizedand shaped to receive portions of the pick 132 and to retain the pick132 within the pick receptacle 122. Specifically, as seen in FIG. 5, thechannel 502 can have a dimension, measured perpendicular to thedirection of the extension of the pick receptacle 122 in the handleportion 116 from the free end 122 the connecting end 118, that can be,for example, larger than the width and/or diameter of the shaft 136 ofthe pick 132. In some embodiments, the dimension of the channel 502 canbe, for example, smaller than the width and/or diameter of the tip 138of the pick. In some embodiments, this can advantageously retain thepick 132 in the pick receptacle 122 until a force is applied to the pick132 and the handle portion 116 sufficient to deform the tip 138 of thepick 132 to allow the tip 138 to pass through the channel 502.

With reference now to FIG. 6, a top view of one embodiment of theflosser 101 is shown. As seen in FIG. 6, the bite plate 114 is locatedon the flossing tip 102. As depicted, the bite plate 114 includesportions having an increased width and/or thickness to facilitate theapplication of force to the bite plate 114 to facilitate in thepenetration of the filament 108 into places between the teeth.

While various embodiments of present invention have been described, itwill be apparent to those of skill in the art that many more embodimentsand implementations are possible that are within the scope of thisinvention. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be limited tothe described embodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hybrid dental device comprising: a pickcomprising a shaft and a deformable cleaner; and a flosser having afront and a back, the flosser comprising: a flossing portion; and ahandle comprising: a pick receptacle, wherein the pick receptacle isconfigured to receive at least a portion of the shaft of the pick and toreceive the cleaner of the pick; a pick retainer configured to retainthe pick within the pick receptacle, wherein the pick retainercomprises: a channel configured to receive at least a portion of thepick; a covering extending entirely across a length of the channel; andwherein the handle defines a retention opening extending into the pickretainer.
 2. The hybrid dental device of claim 1, wherein the flossingportion comprises a leading arm and a trailing arm connected by a linkarm.
 3. The hybrid dental device of claim 2, wherein a filament extendsfrom the leading arm to the trailing arm.
 4. The hybrid dental device ofclaim 1, wherein the cleaner is tapered.
 5. The hybrid dental device ofclaim 1, wherein the pick retainer is configured to engage with the pickvia at least one of: a force fit; and friction fit.
 6. The hybrid dentaldevice of claim 1, wherein the cleaner of the pick comprises a pluralityof cleaning protrusions.
 7. The hybrid dental device of claim 1, whereinthe pick retainer comprises at least one feature configured todeformably engage with the pick.
 8. The hybrid dental device of claim 1,wherein the handle comprises a connecting end and a free end, whereinthe connecting end of the handle connects the handle to the flosser. 9.The hybrid dental device of claim 8, further comprising a second pick.10. The hybrid dental device of claim 9, wherein the second pickcomprises a hard pick.
 11. The hybrid dental device of claim 9, whereinthe second pick comprises a soft pick.
 12. The hybrid dental device ofclaim 1, wherein the pick comprises a hard pick.
 13. The hybrid dentaldevice of claim 1, wherein the pick comprises a soft pick.
 14. Thehybrid dental device of claim 1, wherein the pick comprises a gripconnected to the shaft and extending from the handle of the flosser. 15.The hybrid dental device of claim 1, wherein the pick is detachable fromthe flosser.